‘Disini induced FM corruption’

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Herminio Disini induced dictator Ferdinand Marcos to commit corruption, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, as it filed graft charges yesterday against Disini and five others.

The charges were filed 31 years after the businessman, a known crony of the late president, allegedly lured Marcos to own P65 million worth of shares in two Disini companies.

Charged before the Sandiganbayan together with Disini were Angelo Manahan, Dominico Borja, Jerry Orlina, Alfredo Velayo and Jesus Disini, all board directors of Disini’s firm Herdis Management and Investment Corp.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer 1 Rose Ventayen-Vallejo recommended a bail bond of P30,000 for each of the accused, according to an ABS-CBN ANC report.

“It was businessman Herminio Disini who induced the late President Ferdinand Marcos to commit corruption,” the Office of the Ombudsman was quoted as saying in the report.

Herdis controls stakes in The Energy Corp. and Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp.

Under Section 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Marcos was barred from having financial interest in any business, contract or transaction whereby he can intervene by nature of his being the president, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said.

In 1997, then ombudsman Aniano Desierto dismissed the complaint filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for lack of evidence.

The Supreme Court, however, ruled in favor of the PCGG and directed the ombudsman to file the appropriate case against Disini and his group.